OXYGENATION OF THE HEME-COMPLEX BOUND TO POLYMERIC 2-METHYLIMIDAZOLES.

In the reported experiments, oxygenation of the heme complex of poly(1-vinyl-2-methylimidazole) (PMI) was studied in organic solvents containing 10 vol% water at - 30 degree C. The life-time of the oxygen adduct was prolonged in 10 vol% water/N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone but oxygenation was not observed in the following 10 vol% water/alcohols: ethanol, butanol, and ethylene glycol. This shows a correlation to the proton accepting ability of organic solvents. The oxygen adduct was formed even in an aqueous medium for the heme complexes bound to poly(1-vinyl-2-methylimidazole-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) and poly(1-vinyl-2-methylimidazole-co-1-vinyl-pyrrolidone) at - 30 degree C but not for heme complexes bound to the ionic copolymers: poly(1-vinyl-2-methylimidazole-co-methacrylic acid) and oly(1-vinyl-2-methylimidazole-co-1-vinyl-2-methyl-3-benzylimidazoliu m chloride).